Automatic polishing machine



Njvf 24, 1931. c. l. PACKR 1,333,329

AUTOMATIC PoLIsHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 30 "shtiit l Mmmm WWA mim Y.

Nov. 24, 1931. c. l. PACKER AUTOMATIC POLISHING MACHINE v Filed Jan. 16. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 larly recited lin the claims.

Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT :o1-FICE CLIFFORD I. PACKER, OF MERIDEN, CON1\TEGTICUT,'ASSIGNOR TO THE C. I. PACKER TOOL @c DIE COMPANY, OF `IVIEI.IDF{\T, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION i l l AUTOMATIC roLIsHING MACHINE Application led January 16, 1930. Serial No. 421,148.

This invention relates to an improvement in automatic -polishing machines, by which term is meant machines of the class designed to smooth or finish the surface of articles by grinding, buiiing, burnishing, or other process.

The object of this invention is to provide a reliable, eiiicient machine of the character' referred to, constructed with particular reference to convenience of operation and capacity for rapid production. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view7 my invention consists in a polishing machine comprising a bjody, a chuck-carrier mounted upon the said body with capacity for step-by-step rotationwith respect thereto; means for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to the said chuck-carrier; an annular series of work-holding chucks mounted upon the said chuck-carrier with capacity for individual rotary movement with respect thereto; and a rotary chuck-driving member carried by the said body andlocated in position to engage and rotate a part of each of the said rotary chucks as the same aresuccessively moved into a predetermined station by the intermittent movement of the said chuck-carrier.` 2

.My invention further consists in an automatic polishing` machine characterized as above and having certain other details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described vand particuln the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a polishing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a topfor plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a` viewA corresponding toFig. 2

but drawn on a larger scale and showing the plate-like chuck-carrier partly brokenaway; Fig. 4 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a similarbut less comprehensive view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

In' carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employa plate-likerotary chuckcarrier 10 formed in its under-face with a' right-angle bcaring-groove'll engaging the upper-face and periphery offan outturned bearing-flange 12 formed upon the upper edge of a cup-shaped body-member 13 `resting in turn upon the upper edgeof a similarly-shaped oil-chamber `14 to which it is secured by bolts15. l

The cup-shaped oil-chamber 14 has `secured to its under side at equidist-ant points four (more or less)v slightly-diverging supporting-legs 16 which have mounted between them, near their lower ends, a `platform 17V supporting an electric motor 18, theshaft 19 of which is providedwith a sprocket-pinion 2O` connected by means of a sprocketchain 21 to a sprocket-wheel 22 mounted upon-the outer-end of a main drive-shaft 23 projecting outward through the side-wall of the oil-chamber 14, as clearly shown `in Fig. 1 of the drawings, Y I y f The rotary chuck-carrier 10 is held inplace upon the bearing-flange 12 of the framememberv 13 bya retaining-ring 24 bearing against the under-face of the said flange 12 and secured to the under-.face ofthe edge of the said chuck-carrier by screws 25.,

l"Centrally secured `to the under-face of the chuck-carrier' 10' by means oflanl annular series o'f bolts 26 is an intermittent drive-plate 27 provided with an integral upst'anding positioning-dowel 28 entered into an axial soci;-

et 29 formed in the chuck-carrier 10. V "The intermittent drive-plate 27 forms a feature of a step-by-step drive-mechanism i commonly known as a Geneva movement and, as shown, is formed upon its periphery with twelve (more orless) semicircular locking-notchesSO formed in a corresponding number of radial arms 30a and anked on .i

theirrespective opposite sides by radial drivenotches 3l adapted to'receive a driving-pin 32 upstanding from an arm 33 radially-offsettingfrom 'a locking-plate 34 which is ofV all in the Well-known manner o'f theso-calledy Geneva movement.v L v i.

I he locking-plate 34 is mounted upon the 59 quiring no d-etailed description other than upper end of a short vertical shaft 36 journalled in andr passing vertically through the bottom-wall 37 of the cup-shaped body-member 13. The lower end of the shaft 36 is provided with a worm-Wheel 38 meshing into a worm 39 upon the driveshaft 23 before re-v The inner end of the drive-shaft 23Vmountsv aV miter-gear 43 meshing into asimilar gear 44niounte'd upon a shaft 45 extending at a right angle to the drive-shaft 23 and mounted in bearing-blocks46 and 47 vsecured to the underface' ofthe bottom-wall 37 Yof the body-member 13.

Near its outer end the shaft 45 mounts a chuck-driving worm 48 and at .its opposite end is provided with a miter-gear 49 meshing into' and driving a similar gear 50Vmounted upon a'shaft 51 extending parallel with the drive-shaft 23 'and mounted at its respective opposite ends in bearing-blocks 52 and V53 securedto the under-face of thefbottom-wall 37 of the body-member 13.

, Ner its4 right-hand lend, ask viewed in Fig.y

3, the Vshaft51 mounts a chuck-driving worm andnear' its opposite-end mounts a mitergear v55 meshing' into a similar gea-r 56 mounted upon the inner end of a short shaft 57 eX- tendin'g at a right angle to the shafts 23 and 51 and mounted in bearing-blocks 58 and 59 secured to the underface of the bottom-wall 37 lof .the body-member 13. The said shaft 57 mounts'intermediate its ends and between the bearing-blocks 58 and 59 a chuck-driving worm 60 corresponding in function as will hereinafter appear, to the worms 48 and 54 before referred to. l

The chuck-carrier 10 is formed in its upperface, nearits periphery,with twelve (more or less) vertical sockets 61, each Y of lwhich receives the shank 62 of one of aV correspondingrv number of rotary chucks 63 herein retosay that each is provided with a plurality of gripping-jaws 64 which areadapted to expand to grip an article 65 to be ground or rpolished yunder the control of a` vertical plungerY 66projecting from the lower end of each of the said chucks. y

To provide for the rotation of eachV ofthe chucks'as they successively reach positions in line with those occupied by three rbuifing or grinding-wheels 67, 68 and 69, in their stepby-step bodily 'movement with the chuck-carrier 10, as will hereinafter appear, Iprovide each-of the .said chucks at the lower end of its shank 62 with a spur-pinion 70.

When each of the twelve (more or less) rotary chucks 63 reach stations in line with the batting or grinding-,wheels 67, 68 and 69, it is desired to rotate them so as to rotate the work with respect to the said wheels. For this purposel provide three lcorresponding di.'Ning-mechanisms respectively driven' by the wormsGO, 54 and 48 before referred to. A description of one of these driving-mecha- -nisms will ,serve'for the threesince they all spur-gear 7 6 which is adapted to be successively engaged by the pinions 70 of the chucks 63 as the same are successivelyimoved into engagement therewith during the step-by-step rotation ofthe chuck-carrier 10. Each of the arms 74 is heldin engagement with a stopscrew 77 monnted in a block 78 secured to the Y upper face of the bottom-wall 37 of the frame-member 13, by a helical compres-sionspring 79 having one end seated against the said lever and its opposite end entering an adjustable spring-seat 8O mounted upon the inner end of an adjusting-screw 8l threaded into a bracket 82 secured to theupper-face of the bottom-wall 37 ofthe body-member13.

In the operation of -my improved polishing machine, the' chuck-carrying plate is moved one-twelfth of a revolution for every revolution of the vertical shaft 36 which carries'the lecking-plate34 and the driving-pin 32. This step-by-step rotation of the carrier 10 is effected bythe counter-clockwise turn-A A ing ofthe shaft 36 which causes the drivingpin 32 to enter one of the driving-notches 31 at the same time that the/clearance-notch 35 is inposition to clear the adjacent arm 30a of the drive-plate27, in which the semi-circularV locking-notches 30 are formed.

As the locking-platen 34 continues its counter-clockwise rotation,it will lock the driving-plate 27 and hence the chuck-carrierl 10 f1'- against movement in either V'direction aftereach successive one-twelfthturn has been imlilo parted to it bythe driving-pin 32'--all inthe f manner'of thewell-knownV Geneva move.

are not in position to correctly intermesh, the arm 7 t carrying the particular spur-gear 70 in question will yield in a clockwise direction against the counter-urge of its spring 79, so as to permit the proper meshing with the minimum of noise and without breakage.

As the chucks 63 reach a position substantially diametrically opposite the middle polishing-wheel 68, their plungers 66 will engage a segmental cam-plate 83 securedto the upper face of the bottom-Wall 37 of the bodymember 13 and provided with a rise 84 for lifting the said plungers and collapsing the jaws in any approved manner to release the Work 65 already polished and to permit the application of a new piece of work to the chuck in question.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the several chucks are carried bodily around with the chuck-carrier l0 upon which they are mounted for relative rotation and that when they successively reach positions in line with each of the polishing-wheels 67, 68 and 69, they will have rotary movement imparted to them to more effectively present the surface of the article which they hold to the action of the said wheels and, further, that when they reach a position opposite the buiiingwheel 68 their jaws will be automatically caused to release their grip upon the article previously polished to permit its removal and to permit the mounting of a fresh piece of Work to be subjected to the action of the polishing-wheels.

I claim:

l. In a machine of the character described, t-he combination with a body; of a chuckcarrier mounted upon the said body with capacity for step-by-step rotation with respect thereto; mea-n s for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to the said chuck-carrier; an annular series of work-holding chucks mounted upon the said chuck-carrier with capacity for individual rotary movement with respect thereto; a yielding bearing carried by the said body; a rotary chuck-driving member mounted in the said yielding bearing in position to be engaged by and to rotate a part of each of the said rotalry chucks as the same are 'successively moved int-o ya predetermined sta-tionV by the intermittent movement of the said chuck-carrier.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a body: of a chuck-carrier mounted upon the said body with Vcapacity for step-by-step rotation with respect thereto; means for imparting step-by-step rotary movement to the said chuck-carrier;-

an annular series of work-holding chucks mounted upon the said chuck-carrier with capacity for individual rotary movement with respect thereto; a gear carried by each of the said rotary chucks; a yielding bearing carried by the said body; and a chuck-driving gear mounted in the said yielding hearing in position to be meshed into by and to rotate a part of each 'of the said rotary chucks as the sameare successively moved into a 4predetermined station by the intermittent movement of the said chuck-carrier. n

3. In a machine of theV characterdescribed, the combination .with ay body; cfa chuck-carrier mounted upon the said body with capacity for step-by-step Y rotation W'ith respect thereto; means forliinparting step-by-step Y rota-ry movement to the said chuck-carrier; an Vannular series of- Work-'holding chucks mounted upon the .said chuck-'carrier with capacity for individual rotary movement withrespect thereto; a gear carried by each of the saidz rotary chucks;fa plurality *of yieloing bearings carried by the said body' in spaced relation to each other and at substantially equi-distant points from the center of .rotation ofthe said chuck-carrier;` and a chuck-driving gear mounted in each of the said yielding bearingsv in position to be meshed into by` and 'to rotate the gear of each of the respective rotary chucks as thel same are successively moved into a predetermined station by the intermittent movement of the said chuck-carrier. I y i i 1 4. In a machine'of'the character described, the combination with a body; ofa chuckcarrier mountedfupon the'said body with, f'

capacity for step-by-step rotation with respect thereto; means for imparting step-bystep rotary movement to the said chuck-cari each of the said rotary chucks as the same are successively moved into a predetermined station by the intermittent movement of the said chuck-carrier.

5. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a body; of a chuckcarrier mounted upon the said body with capacity for step-by-step rotation with respect thereto; means for imparting step-bystep rotary movement to the saidv chuck-carrier; an annular series ofwork-holding chucks mounted upon the said chuck-carrier With capacity for individual rotary movement with respect thereto; a gearV carried by each of the said rotary chucks; a swingingarm pivotally carried by the said body; a stop for limiting the swinging movement of the said. arm in one direction; spring-means normally urgingthe said arm toward the said stop; and a chuck-driving gear mounted in the said arm in position to be meshed into by andto rotate the'v gear carried-by 'each-.of therespectiverotary chucks as the'fsam'e'are successively moved into apredetermined'station by the intermittent-movement ofthe said chuck-carrier.' f f 6. Ina machine of the character described, the combination with a body;v of-a chuckcarriermounted' uponthe'said bodyl With capacity for step-by-step rotation With'respect thereto; means for imparting step-bystep rotary movement to the said chuck-oarrier; an'- annular series of Work-holding chucks mounted upon the said chuck-carrier With .capacity for individual rotary movement with respect thereto; a yielding'bearing carried bythe said body; a rotary chuck driving member mounted in the said yielding bearing in position to be engagedby 'and to rotate a part of each ofthe said rotary chucks as the same are successively moved into a predetermined lstation by the intermittent lnovement of the said. chuelr-carrier; andV means carried by the said body for engagement With the ,said chucks kto automaticallyvrelease the grip of the same upon the Work "as the same are successively moved into a predetermined station. f A .f Y

In .testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

' CLIFFORD i.- PACKER. 

